ISLAMABAD, November 9, 2024: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani on Saturday paid heartfelt tributes to Pakistan’s national poet, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, on his 147th birth anniversary, reflecting on his profound contributions to the creation of Pakistan and his enduring legacy.
In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Iqbal’s philosophical vision, which inspired the dream of a separate homeland for Muslims in the subcontinent, eventually leading to the creation of Pakistan.
He emphasized that Iqbal’s teachings on self-reliance, unity, and self-awareness continue to serve as a guiding light for the nation’s progress and prosperity.
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The prime minister called on the youth to rise above mediocrity and strive for excellence, stressing the importance of faith and hard work in achieving greatness.
“Iqbal’s vision of a just, equal, and prosperous nation remains the cornerstone of our national aspirations,” Prime Minister Shehbaz added, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fulfilling Iqbal’s ideals.
In a separate message, Acting President Gillani underscored Iqbal’s pivotal role in uniting the Muslims of the subcontinent and inspiring them to pursue a separate nation.
He noted that Iqbal’s emphasis on spiritual and cultural revival has shaped Pakistan’s identity and continues to resonate with the nation’s youth.
Gillani urged the younger generation to uphold Iqbal’s values and contribute to the nation’s progress.
The 147th birth anniversary of Dr. Iqbal, also known as the “Poet of the East,” is being observed nationwide with patriotic fervor.
Special programs highlighting Iqbal’s poetry and philosophical ideas are being aired across radio and television channels, and the day is being observed as a national public holiday.
In Lahore, the day began with the changing of the guard ceremony at the Mazar-e-Iqbal, where a contingent of the Pakistan Navy took over the duties of the guard of honor.
Rear Admiral Azhar Mahmood, Commander Central Punjab of the Pakistan Navy, was the chief guest at the ceremony.
A wreath-laying ceremony followed, with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, along with Navy officers and personnel, honoring the memory of the national poet.
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Born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877, Allama Iqbal is celebrated for his political acumen and his revolutionary poetry, which sparked the intellectual and political movement that eventually led to the creation of Pakistan.
His famous address at the Allahabad session of the All India Muslim League in 1930 is widely regarded as a key moment in the ideological foundation for a separate Muslim state in the subcontinent.
Dr. Iqbal’s legacy lives on in Pakistan’s national ethos, and his contributions continue to inspire generations of Pakistanis.